Breaking: Charlottesville Jury Reaches Verdicts on Some Charges in Unite the Right Trial (Updated)

#BREAKING: @IntegrityforUSA’s Charlottesville plaintiffs just won our lawsuit against the neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and hate groups responsible for the Unite the Right violence — securing huge financial judgments.

(I am typing this through tears.)

— Amy Spitalnick (@amyspitalnick) November 23, 2021

CNN

Claims one and two:

A federal jury in Charlottesville, Virginia, could not reach a verdict on claims one and two in the Unite the Right civil trial.

Claim one was the most prominent claim against the defendants in the civil lawsuit because it pertains to whether the defendants conspired to commit racially motivated violence.

The jury could also not reach a verdict on claim two, which pertains to whether the defendants had knowledge of a conspiracy for racially motivated violence and failed to prevent it.

Claim three:

The jury in Unite the Right trial finds all of defendants violated a Virginia state conspiracy law.

Claim four:

A jury has found some defendants in the Unite the Right civil trial liable for violating a Virginia law prohibiting racial, religious or ethnic harassment or violence.

That’s all I can find as of now.

Tuesday, Nov 23, 2021 · 8:14:05 PM +00:00 · gizmo59

More from CNN:

The jury finds all defendants violated a Virginia state conspiracy law.

The jury awarded the plaintiffs $11 million in punitive damages on the third conspiracy claim.

Each of the individual defendants, including Jason Kessler, Richard Spencer, Christopher Cantwell and Matthew Heimbach, are liable for $500,000 each.

The five organizations are liable for $1 million each.

The jury awarded only $7 to the plaintiffs in compensatory damages.

Tuesday, Nov 23, 2021 · 8:17:23 PM +00:00 · gizmo59

More from PBS:

After a nearly monthlong civil trial, a jury in U.S. District Court in Charlottesville deadlocked on two key claims but found the white nationalists liable on four other counts Tuesday.

The jury awarded slightly more than $25 million to nine people who suffered physical or emotional injuries during two days of demonstrations.

Tuesday, Nov 23, 2021 · 8:27:30 PM +00:00 · gizmo59

NBC’s report with background here.

Tuesday, Nov 23, 2021 · 8:34:33 PM +00:00 · gizmo59

More from CNN:

Claim four:

Defendants Jason Kessler, Richard Spencer, Elliott Kline, Robert "Azzmador" Ray and Christopher Cantwell are liable for $200,000 each in punitive damages.

In the same claim, the jury found James Alex Fields Jr. liable, but did not award any compensatory damages. Fields, who sped his car into a crowd of protesters, killing one person and injuring dozens, is not responsible for punitive damages.

Fields is currently serving multiple life sentences in prison.

Claim five:

The jury found James Alex Fields Jr. liable for assault or battery.

It awarded $803,277 in compensatory damages to five plaintiffs and $6 million in punitive damages.

Tuesday, Nov 23, 2021 · 8:40:22 PM +00:00 · gizmo59

From Buzzfeed:

Amy Spitalnick, the executive director of Integrity First for America, the civil rights nonprofit that brought the case against the defendants on behalf of nine victims of their white supremacist violence, said even the mixed verdict is a victory against white supremacy.

“This case has sent a clear message: Violent hate won’t go unanswered. There will be accountability,” Spitalnick told BuzzFeed News after the verdict was announced. “Over the court of this trial, our plaintiffs presented overwhelming evidence that the violence was no accident. We’re heartened that the jury agreed.”

Tuesday, Nov 23, 2021 · 8:41:55 PM +00:00 · gizmo59

Also from Buzzfeed:

Roberta Kaplan, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs, said after the verdict was read that her team plans to refile the federal claims against the defendants. She said she believes the jury was eager to get home before the Thanksgiving holiday and that a new jury would rule in her clients' favor in the federal conspiracy charges.

“We think the facts were established. We think that the finding of liability in count 3 showed a conspiracy,” she told reporters outside the courthouse. Kaplan let out a shout of “Yes!” as she stepped into her black SUV.

Tuesday, Nov 23, 2021 · 8:48:18 PM +00:00 · gizmo59

From CNN:

Claim six:

The jury found James Alex Fields Jr. liable for intentionally inflicting emotional distress against six plaintiffs.

It awarded $701,459 in compensatory and $6 million in punitive damages.

Tuesday, Nov 23, 2021 · 8:52:33 PM +00:00 · gizmo59

I’ve got to bail.  I’ve got things to take care of that don’t involve the internet.  

Today’s news is so much better than last Friday’s.